Deep Blue – Kasparov, 1996, Game 1

Deep Blue – Kasparov, 1996, Game 1 is a famous game in which a computer played against a human being. It was the first game played in the 1996 Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov match, and the first time that a chess-playing computer defeated a reigning world champion under normal chess tournament conditions (in particular, normal time controls).

Overview

Deep Blue was a computer developed by IBM to beat grandmaster Garry Kasparov, the top chess player in the world at the time according to Elo ratings. Playing White, Deep Blue won this first game in the match on February 10, 1996 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kasparov rebounded over the next five games, winning three and drawing two, to soundly beat the machine in the 1996 match.

Game details

White: Deep Blue
Black: Kasparov

Opening: Sicilian Defense, B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3

It is more common to play 2. Nf3, but Kasparov has deep experience with that line, so White’s opening book goes in a different direction.

A more common move here is Be7. This was a new approach by Kasparov, developing the bishop in an unusual way. The merit of the new move is debated. After this move, the computer left its opening book and began calculating its next move.11. a3 Ba5 12. Nc3 Qd6 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. Ne5! Bxe2 15. Qxe2 O-O 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. Bg5

Black now has a problem, especially with the pinned knight on f6.17…. Bb6 18. Bxf6 gxf6

This type of pawn sacrifice is typical of Kasparov’s style of play. Kasparov commented that he might have played 23. d5 himself in this position, since it hurts Black’s pawn structure and opens up the board, and Black’s exposed king suggests that there is probably a way to exploit the result. Kasparov has been attacking White’s d-pawn, and the computer wisely decides to advance it for an attack instead of trying to defend it.

23… Rxd5 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. b3! Kh8?

Kasparov attempts to prepare a counter-attack by preparing to move his rook to the g file, but it will not work. Burgess suggests that 25…. Ne7 Rxc8+ would have been better, though White would still have some advantage.

26. Qxb6 Rg8 27. Qc5 d4 28. Nd6 f4 29. Nxb7

This is a very materialistic move, typical of computers; White grabs an undeveloped pawn for a small gain in material. However, Deep Blue has not identified any threat of checkmate from Black, so it simply acquires the material.

29…. Ne5 30. Qd5

30. Qxd4?? would lose to 30… Nf3+.

30…. f3 31. g3 Nd3

The move 31… Qf4 won’t work, because of 32. Rc8! Qg5 33. Rc5!

32. Rc7 Re8

Kasparov is attacking, but the computer has correctly determined that the attack is not a real threat.